Characteristics of elderly patients who stopped receiving day service at a welfare facility

To cope with problems resulting from a rapidly aging society with a low birth rate, effective methods must be established to support home care services through a welfare service system. Characteristics of 40 elderly women living in S City with their familes who had stopped receiving "day service" (discontinued group) were compared with 40 age-matched elderly women selected among those regularly receiving the day service st the same facility. In addition, factors that influenced the women to stop receiving "day service" were studied. A questionnaire consisting of 20 items concerning various activies of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL(IADL), health states, ecnomical coditions, and reasons for quiting the service was completed by all subjects. The results showed that ADL, IADL and health staes were significantly lower in the discontinued group than those of the control group. About half of the elderly in the dis-continued group quit the services in order to receive medical care at medical institutes. These women were older in age and lower ADL and IADl than those who quit for other reasons. Time needed to care for their husbands and housekeeping, were also reasons for qutiting the day service in the relatively younger group whose ADL snd IADL were well maintitained. Therefore, I concluded that "day service at welfare facilities" may become competitive with medical and health facilities already supporting home care services for the aged. if knowledge increases about social resources to support home care services.

原著